|
Harold Fjord posted:I made the mistake of googling the prices of AC parts after paying an expert to replace a bad electrical component and an old one. Think of it less as paying for the part and the time, more that you're renting many years of education and experience. (let's ignore how much money the guy's company is skimming off the fee)
|
#
?
Aug 6, 2021 22:55
|
|
I would have never been able to diagnose the issue of the capacitor not distributing the correct electricity to everything else, but it feels bad.
|
|
| # ? May 30, 2024 20:14 |
|
|
Kaiser Schnitzel posted:
Yeah, I called them up, and asked if I could just dremel off the bottom of the threaded rod. They said "sure", so that's what I did.  It took two cuts to get everything off, because I had such limited clearance to work with, but it's done, finally. I may need to junk the square nut that the threaded rod had seized on, but customer support told me what replacement to get, it's just a standard size. Here's hoping that the hard part is over!
|
|
#
?
Aug 6, 2021 23:32
|
|
|
I have two ceiling fans where the pullchain for the lights are stuck, is this generally an easy repair or should I expect to replace the entire thing?
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 11:43
|
|
|
Rhyno posted:I have two ceiling fans where the pullchain for the lights are stuck, is this generally an easy repair or should I expect to replace the entire thing? It’s like a $3 part and “replace ceiling fan switch” should net you a bunch of youtubes. If you’re comfortable replacing a wall switch or outlet, you should be safe. Same safety rules apply.
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 13:30
|
|
|
eddiewalker posted:It’s like a $3 part and “replace ceiling fan switch” should net you a bunch of youtubes. Yeah I don't know why I didn't browse YT first, just exhausted I guess. I found what seems to be the fix, thanks!
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 13:58
|
|
|
glynnenstein posted:A good chance to post a circuit breaker trip curve. It's very clever. This is really cool. I haven't ever really thought about it, but kind of figured they would just trip when 20.1 amps went through.
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 22:15
|
|
|
Took the cabinets down and the kitchen is so so much better! I'm still surprised that these heavy solid wood cabinets were held so solidly by just diagonal nails into the ceiling and 3 nails into the wall. It took a good 20 minutes of careful prying to get them down and they're about as heavy as a dresser. mutata posted:Chances are they'll just separate from the grout/caulk when you start moving the cabinets a bit. Otherwise you can get a grout removal tool, but then you'll have to regrout/recaulk that area. I'd just give it a try and wiggle that part of the cabinet carefully during demo and see if it would just separate. There's a thin little line of grout touching the cabinets, but a bunch of thinset attaching the tiles to the wall, so that's probably what's gonna win. This ended up being true Leperflesh posted:Put some painter's tape covering the tile as you pull the cabinet away, so that if one tile comes loose it doesn't fall down and shatter and you can subsequently stick it back in place and repair the grout. This was a good idea too, i did it, though luckily no tiles came loose
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 22:32
|
|
|
Blowjob Overtime posted:This is really cool. I haven't ever really thought about it, but kind of figured they would just trip when 20.1 amps went through. We once found some 20a breakers sitting at 23-26amps rms. Whoops. As long as you're slow and gentle and the room is very cold you can do some very naughty things to breakers. They started doing monthly clamp readings and weekly thermal imaging after that. (We were paying flat rate for the breaker so no remote monitoring/metering.)
|
|
#
?
Aug 7, 2021 22:53
|
|
|
DreadLlama posted:Where can I get the best price in Canada? Will mat work OK or do I need woven? Does it actually need to be rigid? I assume your reflective material will be essentially a big piece of sheet metal or something like that. If it’s pressing down on the support, as long as the support is taught it should be good. If it’s regular canvas or poly or nylon webbing, you could fasten one side and pull/relax the other side for adjusting focus.
|
|
#
?
Aug 8, 2021 18:17
|
|
|
I planned to use a sheet of mylar cloth as it is much cheaper than sheet metal, https://www.amazon.ca/VIVOSUN-Horticulture-Highly-Reflective-Mylar/dp/B018VI75CS/ vs.  . Sheet metal that you can polish to a mirror finish have it stay a mirror finish is expensive. The plan is to have a rigid backing that I can glue mylar to and replace every season, (I only need it to work when maple sap is flowing).
|
|
#
?
Aug 8, 2021 22:51
|
|
|
I was poking around in my garage, and came across this thing, and I'm not sure what it is: The fact that it was painted over doesn't help, but the two jacks on the left I'm pretty sure are RJ-11, and correspond to the two 'regular' phone lines in the house, although we don't have landline service so I didn't bother testing. The real mystery to me are the two boxes in the middle. It looks like each phone line goes into them, and each one has three outputs which feed into the box on the right. AFAICT the outlet box doesn't have any plugs -- the 6 wires go straight in. The boxes seem to be held to the wall by two screws coming from the interior -- I tried unscrewing the screw in the middle, but that didn't help with pulling them off, and I guess that screw perhaps lets you open up the box, although it's probably glued shut by the paint. But before I go poking around with my utility knife, I figured it's probably best to find out what it is. Any ideas?
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2021 01:36
|
|
|
floWenoL posted:I was poking around in my garage, and came across this thing, and I'm not sure what it is: Most likely just junction boxes / splitters. Do you by any chance have 6 sockets throughout the house? 3 per line? Should be safe to open.
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2021 06:29
|
|
|
What's the best way to fill holes in turf? Sprained my drat ankle on a hole in the backyard the other day. Pretty sure it's critter-related, but not sure if it's active or not. We'll find out after we fill it! Known about it for a while, but generally avoided it up until now. So stupid question, what do I fill it with? Sand + whatever dirt I can find? Potting soil? It's like 6" diameter and who knows how deep. We have bermuda, so I could fill it with broken glass and cigarette butts and the grass will probably grow over it, so that's less of a concern. Most important is doing it right so it doesn't have to get re-done a dozen times due to compacting/washing away/whatever. DaveSauce fucked around with this message at 12:19 on Aug 9, 2021 |
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2021 12:17
|
|
|
Are LG appliances still having issues with being impossible to repair? Or is that just refrigerators? Buying a new range and am on the fence between LG and Frigidaire. I couldn't find an appliance thread so I came here.
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2021 22:41
|
|
|
I'm trying to figure out how this old window in my house is supposed to work. All of the windows in my house are new except for these these historical stained glass windows. Below is an example of one. I know I at least need a painter. I'm trying to figure out if I need a window person too. Is this supposed to close all the way? There's no hook on the right like there is on the left. Water gets in when it rains hard.    
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2021 23:27
|
|
|
FogHelmut posted:Are LG appliances still having issues with being impossible to repair? Or is that just refrigerators? Buying a new range and am on the fence between LG and Frigidaire. I couldn't find an appliance thread so I came here. The biggest issue with things like LG refrigerators is the compressor is a closed system so if it goes bad you have a 10yr warranty on the part but it's still $700+ in labor to fix it (ask me how I know!  )Gas ranges seem pretty simple to me though so I don't think brand matters as much. There's a bit of appliance chat in the home ownership thread, you can try asking there too. https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3774735
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 01:35
|
|
|
I just added a video doorbell to my house... I added a transformer and used the dongle from the doorbell as well. Unifi g4 if that matters. Is there a way I can use the video portion and remove the chime box out of the circuit completely? I prefer the app notification and the home automation setup that plays a custom mp3.
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 03:13
|
|
|
MrChrome posted:I'm trying to figure out how this old window in my house is supposed to work. All of the windows in my house are new except for these these historical stained glass windows. Below is an example of one. I know I at least need a painter. I'm trying to figure out if I need a window person too. Is this supposed to close all the way? There's no hook on the right like there is on the left. Water gets in when it rains hard. It appears that you have ancient wood-framed, panel storm windows that are held in with hooks & eyes. Typically these are hung from the top by some kind of anchor arrangement, installed from outside; then you go inside & pull then in snug, and lock them with the hooks. Of course, with that ornamental ironwork outside, it may no longer be possible to remove the storms, which is typically done in the spring The stained-glass inner windows probably have some kind of turn latch on the inside. The storms are shot to hell, and should be rebuilt or replaced. The framing that I can see on the stained-glass inners doesn't look so hot, either...and here is the fun of owning wood windows: every once in a while, some poor schmuck gets stuck with having to dismount them, re-glaze them, sand and re-paint them. And it they're truly shot, rebuild the frames. It's your turn.
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 04:09
|
|
|
Gyshall posted:I just added a video doorbell to my house... I added a transformer and used the dongle from the doorbell as well. Unifi g4 if that matters. There’s probably no reason you can’t disconnect the wires bringing power to the chime, and the wires sending power from the chime to the doorbell, then wire-nut them together. It’s low voltage AC so polarity doesn’t matter. In my experience with both Ring and Nest, there are times when the notifications are significantly delayed, and you’re going to miss someone at the door entirely. If you care.
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 04:18
|
|
|
The ground floor of my old house has knotty pine walls that are actual boards of knotty pine. Part of one board is weeping pine sap. Can I just wash it off with mineral spirits sand go my merry way? What's the best cleaner to avoid stripping the finish?
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 04:57
|
|
|
So I want to attach an LED light strip to a cargo bicycle for a temporary decoration and I'm hoping it can just be powered by a power bank. But I'm a bit confused by voltages and wattages, if the LED strip says 12 Volts and the battery can output at 12 Volts that should be fine correct? Also if anyone has experience converting a LED strip to be powered by a power bank it would be really helpful to know how you connected the two.
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 09:22
|
|
|
Arsenic Lupin posted:The ground floor of my old house has knotty pine walls that are actual boards of knotty pine. Part of one board is weeping pine sap. Can I just wash it off with mineral spirits sand go my merry way? What's the best cleaner to avoid stripping the finish? If there's sap coming out, they weren't fully dried. Permanently fixing it is somewhat of an involved process, but here's a fully detailed answer. Seems like you should be able to wipe it down with turpentine or mineral oil. WHAT ARE THE WAYS OF CLEANING THE SAP? posted:There are several methods to clean sap off wood, with the only tried and tested way is to scrape the sap off after it has dried. One of the challenges of having untreated lumber is that the sap will be soft and sticky, making it a big pain to deal with. Without knowing what the finish is, the second part can't really be answered.
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 11:06
|
|
|
eddiewalker posted:It’s like a $3 part and “replace ceiling fan switch” should net you a bunch of youtubes. Hey I just did both fans in about 20 minutes!
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 14:41
|
|
|
We have mostly vertical sliding windows for the smaller windows in our house. At least two of them have the side locks of the sliding section broken off, so while opening it is fine, trying to then close the window can make it fall off if you aren't pushing 100% downwards and not at all towards yourself. To clarify, not talking about the middle latch to lock the window from being opened, the two sliders on each end are cracked off so nothing is really holding it up well. Can these be replaced? Looking at it, appears they are just inserts so with the right tools I figure I oughta be able to yank em out, but where would I find replacements?
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2021 21:31
|
|
|
The previous owners of our house put in some kind of tape over the laminate to keep the rug from slipping. So far we have hit the residue with Goo Gone, Dawn, and Murphy's oil soap, and each time the supposedly clean surface had become sticky and started accumulating dirt. Anybody got a favorite goo dissolver?
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 04:58
|
|
|
Douse it with WD-40, let it sit a few minutes, wipe up the residue, then clean it up with Murphy's Oil Soap.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 05:22
|
|
|
Arsenic Lupin posted:Anybody got a favorite goo dissolver? I spit on things a lot.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 05:26
|
|
|
3M 6041 citrus base adhesive remover Make sure you use it in a well ventilated area, the fact that it’s natural terpenes doesn’t make them any less of an irritant, much less a solvent. That poo poo will strip paint if you’re not careful, but it does a number on glues too.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 06:02
|
|
|
I am really struggling this morning trying to find the appropriate thread to ask about this in, but I figured a chat thread would probably be the best place to start. I've been tasked with putting together a list of items for my company to build our own video studio for showing off new products, doing interviews, etc etc. Myself and a co-worker have finished putting our list together, but I thought it might be prudent to post online for scrutiny from people who know more about this than we do before we go spending thousands of dollars on equipment we may not need. What's the best thread to get feedback on my itemized video studio budget?
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 14:54
|
|
|
timp posted:I am really struggling this morning trying to find the appropriate thread to ask about this in, but I figured a chat thread would probably be the best place to start. I mean the obvious answer is  but I think that is going to wind up in the realm of a architect or other consultant (perhaps your local smug camera shop?) to look at your space depending on what exactly you're trying to do. Start here, why not, and I imagine cross posting something into The Dorkroom for some of the gear wouldn't hurt. Worst that happens is you're laughed off the forums forever. If it's out of scope people will say so. If you wind up doing a big build I bet people would like pictures, I know I like watching people build stuff / destroy their sanity.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 15:14
|
|
|
H110Hawk posted:I mean the obvious answer is gently caress I forgot the cardinal rule of SA: The room itself is your typical office space; dimensions are roughly 11ft x 16ft with a 10ft ceiling. My plan was to use a room dividing curtain to section off about 5 feet of the back of the room, which is meant to function as equipment storage, help with sound muffling, and make the room smaller, requiring less sound baffling overall. --- CAMERAS (1) Sony Alpha a7 III, (1) Gopro Hero9 LENS (1) TAMRON 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD JIB (1) Edelkrone JibONE Bundle #053, including Pan PRO, HeadPLUS v2, case, controller, etc. LIGHTS (1) Neewer 700W Softbox MICS (1) EW 112P G4-A, (1) Shure w/ 20ft extension cables TRIPOD (1) Manfrotto 290 tripod w/ fluid head EDITING SOFTWARE Adobe Premiere (we already have Creative Cloud) SOUND BAFFLING (40) SoundAssured 4-packs, (2) Foam Bass Trap 4-packs DATA STORAGE (1) Seagate 5TB BACKDROP (1) Neewer Green Background Screen HEADPHONES (1) Sony MDR-7506 COMPUTER (1) HP Pavilion Computer ROOM DIVIDER CURTAIN (1) BGment Room Divider Curtain --- My co-conspirator recently added the jib bundle and he's 100% convinced it's needed. It's like $3,700 and by far the most expensive thing on the budget. To me it feels a bit like a novelty, but I can't deny it produces some great, professional looking shots. Alright, light my rear end up! What's totally unnecessary, and what's totally obvious that I forgot? Edit: I'm going to crosspost this in a more tech-y forum. We're not planning on, like, building anything here per se so this is definitely not the right place to be looking for feedback! timp fucked around with this message at 19:08 on Aug 11, 2021 |
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 15:32
|
|
|
Can I tape/mud over the dust/dirt that accumulates over the drywall hanging period? Note in this case it's been like a month and we've been picking at it, and we use the space for laundry still.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 21:53
|
|
|
timp posted:gently caress I forgot the cardinal rule of SA: What sort of products are you going to be trying to photograph? How often are you photographing? How often are you doing video interviews? My suggestion with that jib, which seems wholly unnecessary unless something about this is way more complicated than a tripod can handle, is for your first few shoots rent it. I assume any pro video store in your area can rent you a super nice one for 5-10% the cost of that for a few days. This lets you both get some time with it without committing to $3,700 in capital expense on a gizmo. This goes for anything that is expensive, sometimes a trip to the rental counter can get you hands on knowledge with things you just can't get looking at a packing list. I bet you need a second hot light. Either a ring light or a second softbox. Are you doing 0 photography where you might want a speedlight instead? Link your cross post!
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 22:46
|
|
|
I just bought a condo and the light switch in the bathroom is weird. Most of the time when I turn it on it takes like 10 seconds to slowly fade in all the way(not in an on purpose way). It’s a dimmer switch with the little thing next to the switch that slides up and down, but for like 75% of the range on the dimmer it’s like 30% on, and the 100% spot is like 2/3 of the way up instead of all the way at the top. I’m assuming the switch is either bad or just improperly installed, if I swapped it with just a normal rear end switch is that likely to fix it or is there a chance something bigger is wrong?
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 00:29
|
|
|
Take off the plate and look if there's a little adjustment screw or lever hidden there. If so, dim it all the way down and adjust that lil thing until the lights are at the dimmest level you'd like to see. Also check that the bulbs are dimmable It could just be a hosed switch, in which case it's very easy to replace a switch, like entry level diy electrical job. Just know how to use your breaker and test the wires with a no contact tester before touching them.
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 00:45
|
|
|
Up until 20 minutes ago I didn't even realize there were dimmable and non dimmable bulbs, sure would be convenient if it was just that!!
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 03:00
|
|
|
timp posted::snip: Too add more words of my own on top of Hawk's reply: You probably need some high speed SD cards to use in whatever (video)cameras you end up purchasing, didn't see those on your list (don't buy from amazon, SD cards are frequently faked, you want real high speed ones from B&H photo or similar). That HP Pavilion computer, does it come with a color accurate monitor? You'll want a good monitor to edit the footage on so you're not creating something that looks like dogshit on anything except your bespoke but bad monitor. For your stuff you probably don't need a super high end color calibration setup for your monitor, I just bought a Dell monitor that comes calibrated from the factory (it's no longer available but I'm sure they have a new model now that's the same type of thing), it's been great for over 3 years now for my video editing work.
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 06:51
|
|
|
tangy yet delightful posted:You'll want a good monitor to edit the footage on so you're not creating something that looks like dogshit on anything except your bespoke but bad monitor [snip] Not that this is the monitor thread but to expand on this point: I can wholeheartedly recommend the Asus ProArt line for affordable calibrated monitors. I use a pair of the 24" PA248QV monitors on my editing rig. However, anything that has a calibrated rec.709 mode will work for your use case. Springing for 100% Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 gamut is overkill.
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 08:13
|
|
|
Jenkl posted:Can I tape/mud over the dust/dirt that accumulates over the drywall hanging period? I'm a bit confused, can it not be brushed off?
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 09:55
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 30, 2024 20:14 |
|
|
Wowporn posted:I just bought a condo and the light switch in the bathroom is weird. Most of the time when I turn it on it takes like 10 seconds to slowly fade in all the way(not in an on purpose way). It’s a dimmer switch with the little thing next to the switch that slides up and down, but for like 75% of the range on the dimmer it’s like 30% on, and the 100% spot is like 2/3 of the way up instead of all the way at the top. Yes, there's dimmable bulbs. They play nicer with dimmers. Some of the switches have adjustments behind the faceplate for which types of bulbs you use. Also, who puts a dimmer in a bathroom? Is it to set the mood while you're dropping a deuce?
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 18:00
|
|